Frankie Dettori ended a tortuous wait for a winner at his last Royal Ascot when he captured the Queen’s Vase on Wednesday.
Until the sixth race on day two of the meeting, the racing had been a disaster by the usual standards of the Royal Ascot’s winning most active jockey
He rode three second place finishes on Tuesday and was then slapped with a nine day riding ban for careless riding on the King and Queen’s horse Saga.
He was well beaten on another royal runner, Reach For The Moon, in the Royal Hunt Cup, and his best placing on Wednesday had been a third in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.
His luck finally turned on the John and Thady Gosden-trained Gregory on whom Dettori, who retires at the end of the season, made all the running to win by a length and a half and record his 78th Royal Ascot win.
Former champion jockey Willie Carson, watching on ITV, said: “It’s about time! I am very happy for Frankie. He’s broken his duck.
"He needed that because he walked into the weighing room after the last race and his lip was tripping over his foot.”
Despite his run of near-misses, Gregory was a heavily backed Evens favourite to strike for Dettori, who rode his first Royal Ascot winner 33 years ago.
“I thought this winner was never going to come this year,” he said. “I thought this would be my best chance. I was in front a long time.
“Full credit to this horse who really stuck his neck out.”
He went on: “It’s my last Ascot and to ride a winner is fantastic. It’s amazing the reception I got.
“I am both sad and happy. I’ve still got a few more days but at least we’ve got one on the board.”
